A mid size Dogon Granary ladder of curved form and typical Y shaped top. Carved from a single piece of hardwood, likely the trunk from a Shea tree. Mali, early to mid 20th century. 162cm high x 42cm across the top, the trunk approx 16cm deep.

Retaining the trees bark at the back of the trunk, the steps at the front are carved out with an adze swung against the grain, leaving behind a profusion of tooling marks. Once carved, the tree is lightly charred, bringing out the grain and protecting against insects. This process, combined with decades of daily use, and of natural shrinkage and cracking, provide a highly textured, polished and exceptional patina that is unlike anything else.

With a wonderful curvaceous silhouette, snaking left and right and out and down in a beautiful natural line from the top, this is a highly decorative object that fuses the grace of the trees natural form, human artistry and a long story of practical usage.

Dogon ladders can be found in a huge variety of sizes and forms, from 3 feet to over 2 metres, this example is of a medium height, making it easy to accommodate in any modern home. 

Made by the cliff dwelling Dogon people of Mali for centuries, these beautiful architectural ladders are a seamless blend of the practical and the cosmological, acting as a utilitarian and spiritual bridge between the earth and the heavens. Miniature replicas are placed on shrines and altars to help the deceased reach the afterlife.

Condition: Heavily weathered and patinated in the best possible way. Solid with no structural weaknesses.

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